Electric regulation



J. L. CREVELING.

ELECTRIC REGULATJON.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-17,1916- 1,343,905. I PatentedJune 22,1920.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

JOHN I1. CREVELING, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC REGULATION.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed August 17, 1916. Serial No. 115,419.

new and useful Improvements in Electric;

Regulation, of which the following is a description. Y

My invention pertains to that class of electric regulation wherein it is desired to regulate a controllable source of electrical potential difference and has for a particular object to provide means whereby said source may be automatically regulated in a prede termined manner. A further object of my IIN'GIltIOII IS to provide means whereby the current in a circuit supplied from said a source may be held within predetermined limits an 1 means whereby the voltage across a circuit supplied by said source may also be held from exceeding a predetermined limit. As such systems of regulation are particularly useful for regulating a dynamo operating to charge a storage battery and maintain lamps or other translating/devices and more especially when the dynamo is driven at variable speeds causing its voltage and consequent current output to tend to widely vary, my invention will be described with particular reference to such a system.

In the drawing, Figure I. is a diagrammatic representation of one type ofsystem embodying the essentials of my invention.

Fig. II. shows a portion of a system similar to that of Fig. I. in which 'amodification is shown without departing from my invention.

In the drawing, 1 represents a dynamo or generator provided with the usual field coil 2, having in series therewith a regulating device or element, in this instance indicated as a carbon pile 3, and it will be obvious that the dynamo may be regulated by regulating the pressure upon the carbon pile 3 in a well known manner. 4 represents the positive lead of the dynamo which is in electrical communication with the positive side of the storage battery 5 and the positive terminals of lamps or other translating devices indicated at 6. The negative terminals of the translating devices 6 and the battery 5 are in communication with the lead 7 carried to one side of any suitable automatic switch indicated at 8; This switch. the mere presence of which is indicated in the drawing for the sake of clearness, is preferably one of the automatic variety adapted to close its circuit when the generator voltage is substantially equal or slightly in excess of that of the storage battery and to open the circuit when the generator voltage falls very slightly below that of the storage battery in such manner as to prevent back discharge from the battery through the generator.

The opposite terminal of the switch 8 is connected as by the lead 9 with one end'of the series coil or solenoid 10, the opposite end of which is connected as by lead 11 with the negative brush of the generator 1. The pivot 12, carries a lever having the three branches 13, 14 and 15 which are in fixed rela ion with regard to each other and rotatable about the said pivot, preferably with negligible friction. The branch 13 presses upon one end of the carbon pile 3, the opposite end of which is stationary, and manipu' lation of the said branch 13 will, therefore, regulate the generator by controlling the excitation of the field coil 2. 14 is a short arm carrying the core 16 of iron or other magnetic material normally drawn in a downward direction by the coil 10 when the said coil is energized. 15 is a long arm preferably several times the length of the arm 14 and carrying at its outward extremity a smooth, depending rod 17 which passes through an aperture 18 in a clutch member 20, adapted to be engaged by the core 21 when the same is raised from its adjustable stop 22 by action of current in the solenoid 23 surroundmg the said core and in shunt across the generator circuit and having 1n series therewith a variable resistance for the canted as the said core engages one side thereof and then the edges of the member 20 at the aperture 18 will grip the rod 17 and further elevation of the core 21 will carry the member-20, rod 17 and lever 15 therewith so as to decrease the pressure upon the pile 3. 25-is an adjustable spring tending to draw the lever 15 downwardly to increase the pressure upon the pile 3 and 26 is a dashso regulating means is set, the function of l pot arrangement restraining too sudden movement of the lever 15.

In Fig. II. like numerals are used to indicate like parts and the only modification in: tended to be brought out by the said figure resides in thecoil 27 in series with the battery circuit which may be used in place of coil 10 of Fig. I.:wh1ch is in the main or generator circuit. 1 4

An operation of my invention is substantially as follows:

If the dynamo be at rest or running at low speed, the switch 8 will be open and translating devices 6 may be maintained by the battery 5 in a well known manner. If the generator have its voltage raised until in excess of'that of" the battery, the switch 8 will close and current willflow from the generator 1 through lead 4, battery 5 and translating devices 6 to lead 7, switch 8, then through lead 9, coil 10 and lead 11 to the generator. Current will also flow through coil 23- which is shown in shunt across'the generator and tend'to raise the core'21, and I so adjust the weight of the said core or provide a spring for said purv pose if desirable, or I may adjust the varibeing exceeded.

able resistance in series with the said coil so that when the dynamo voltage reaches a predetermined maximum which it is desired shall not be exceeded the core 21 will be 'raisedso as to cantthe member 20 into enpressure upon the pile 3 in such manner as to cut down the field excitation and prevent this maximum desired voltage from If, thus operating, this maximum voltage desired upon the system. would increase the current output of the generator beyond a desired limit as for. example a protective limit, then coil 10-which is responsive to the generator output will draw the core 16 downwardly and prevent this maximum current output fom being exceede If too great a curren would be delivered with the generator voltage appreciably below that for which the voltage raise the -core21f'and the same will be allowed to approach and rest upon its stop- 22.. The member 20 will as it approaches the horizontal position cease to grip the rod 17 and slide Idownwardly upon the same until resting uponits stops 24, when it will cease to engage the rod altogether Then variations in current in the coil'lO will serve entirely to. regulate-the generator. If while value held from excess by the coil 10, it

would require a voltage to produce such current in excess of that for which the voltage regulating means is adjusted, coil 23 will then raise core 21 and cause the member 20 to engage the rod 17 at whatever position it may be and then the coil 23 will usurp the function of regulation and the current in the coil 10 will fall off. If this rise in voltage causing the voltage regulator to come into play and take the work away from the current regulator be due for example to rise in voltage across the storage battery as the same-becomes. charged, the current in the coil 10 will, of course, fall ofl? still further as the battery voltage rises inasmuch as the generator voltage will be held substantially constant and when the battery voltage has risen sufficiently, the current in the coil 10 will be quite small or negligible. However, the reduction of the current from its maximum value down to a small or even negligible value in the coil 10 will not seriously affect the operation of the voltage responsivemeans even though withdrawing its assistance therefrom because the voltage responsive coil and c0 operating mechanism is preferably made quite powerful and of long range and operates through the long lever 15, preferably several times the length of that of the lever 14, so that changes in the load even though at times capable of performing the entire regulation do not seriously alter the standard operation of 'the voltage responsive means, notwithstanding the current responsive means is-always' mechanically con nected with the operating mechanism of the pile 3. In order that this feature may be further and 'better accomplished, it will be noted that the voltage responsive means, even though operating upon the end of a comparatively very long lever, does not have to move the core21 throughout the enlong lever but by use of the clutch mechanism shown I canuse a powerful voltage. responsive magnet system of reasonably short range; for if the member 20 engages the rod 17 after magnet 10 has'elevated the rod 17 considerably, the Work which has been done by thecoil 10 in raising the rod 17' is taken as of what the voltage responsive means would otherwise have had to do as it will engage the rod 17 after some work has, been one and then further increases in volthge will be prevented as above outlined. If while thus engaged the voltage upon the s stemfall and lower the member 20 until it reaches contact with one of the members 24 and this does-not sufliciently decrease the resistance of the pile 3, the core 21 will allow the end of the member 20 which it engages to fall and the said member will approach a horizontal positionuntil the clutch mechanism releases the rod 17 and the same will be drawndowm 'wardly through the member 20 by-the: action of spring 25' until sufficient voltage upon the system is reached that the coil23 will slightly elevate the core 2l and press the clutch into engagement with the'rod 17,

when a further increase in voltage, as for example if the generator-speed be increased, will be prevented by' thecore rising and operating the resistance 3 as before. In

other words, by using the clutch mecha vthe current responsive means, always mechanically connected with the regulating element and always in condition to prevent V overloading;

An operation of that modification intend ed to be brought out by Fig. II. is substan-- tially the same as that described above with respect to Fig. I., with the exception that the current responsive means is affectedonly by the current in the'battery circuit instead of being responsive to the generator total output as shown in I.

I do not wish in any way to limit myself to any-of the exact details of construc: tion or modes of operation set forth above merely to portray an embodiment of my invention for it is obvious that. wide departure both in construction and in operation mayv be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention whichis as set forth in the following claims:

1. Regulating means comprehending current responsive means,'-voltage responsive means, means operatedthereby' affected in functionally different degree byklike'mechanical efforts appliedthereto by said responsive meansand clutchingmeans whereby the voltage. responsive means engages and disengages said operated means.

2. Regulating means comprehending current responsive means, voltage responsive means, regulating means operated thereby affected in functionally different regulatin degrees by equal fluctuations in mechanica efforts of the responsive means and means ,for disengaging and engaging the voltage responsive means including a clutch.

3. Means for regulating a generator-to hold its current constant when the. same reaches a predetermined value and to hold its voltage constant when the same reaches a predetermined value-comprehending a regu-- lating'element, movable means for affecting nism adapted to engage said lever mechavoltage responsive means of relatively the movable means to affect the same in re- 7 sponse to voltage fluctuations, the arrangementof the movable means and the responsive means being such that small mechanical efforts onthe part of the voltage responsive means, when above a certain value, so dominate the efiectv of equalfefforts on the part of the current responsive means that the regulation in response to such voltage fluctuations is substantially unaffected by the current fluctuations caused by the effect of the operation. of the voltage responsive means.

4. Means for regulating a generator com-' prehending a vregulating element, movable means for affecting the same, current re sponsive means permanently connected with said' movable means, voltage responsive means. and clutching means operated thereby for'engaging the movable means upon rise in voltage above a predetermined stand-. ard and capable of disengaging the same to. render voltage fluctuations ineffective when said fluctuations cause the voltage value to fall below a predetermined limit, the arrangement of the movable means and the responsive means being such that small .mechanical efforts on the part of the. voltage responsive means, when above a certain predetermined value, so dominate the effect of equal effortspn the part of the current re- 100 sponsive. means that the. regulation in response to such voltage fluctuations is sub-f stantially unaffected by the current fluctuations caused by the effect of the operation of the voltage,responsive-means.

5. The combination with a enerator of a regulating element affecting the operation thereof, lever mechanism for affecting said element, current responsive means connected with said lever mechanism, clutch mechanism at a point of functionally greater leverage than the current responsive means and voltage responsive means cooperating with said clutch mechanism to affect the operation of the generator and to substantially usurp the entire regulation of the generator when its voltage reaches a predetermined value. v s

6. The combination with a dynamo, of

means for regulating'the same comprehending a regulating device, movable means for affecting said device, current responsive means COIIIIGOtEdWlth sa1d movable means,

greater power than the current responsive means,' clutch mechanism for uniting the same with the movable means, the arrangement of the responsive means and the movable means being such that relatively large fluctuations in current are required to affect the regulatlng device and comparatlvely very small fluctuations in voltage afiect the affected by the voltage responsive means,

same to regulate the generator when above a predetermined value.

7 The combination with a dynamo, of means for regulating the same comprehending a regulating device, movable means for affecting said device, current responsive -means connected with said movable means,

voltage responsive means of relatively greater power thanthe current responsive means, clutch mechanism for uniting the same with the movable means, the arrangement of the responsive means' and the'movable means being such that relatively large fluctuations in current arerequired to affect the regulating device and comparatively very small fluctuations in voltage affect the same to "regulate the generator when above a predetermined value with relatively immaterial modification by relatively large changes in current in the current responsive means caused by the action of the volt-.

age responsive means in regulating the dynamo. J

8. Means for regulating a dynamo comprehending a regulating device, movable means for affecting the same, current res'ponsive.means,tending upon all fluctuations in current therein to affect the movable means, mechanically independent voltage responsive means and clutching mechanism operated thereby for engaging the ssfinovablemea ns, the arrangement of said mo able means and the responsive means being such that small mechanical movements in the portion of the movable means affected by the current responsive means are attended by large mechanical move-' ments in that portion of the movable means and the arrangement of theclutch mechanismbeing such as to connect the voltage responsive means with the movable means upon relatively small movement when the voltage tends to exceed a predetermined 9. The combination with a generator and battery charged thereby, of a regulating device affecting the electrical. operation of the generator, lever mechanism for controlling said device, current responsive means connected with said lever mechanism and tending to prevent the current supplied to the battery from I exceeding a predetermined limit, clutch mechanism adapted to engage said lever mechanism at a point of greater leverage than the current responsive means and voltage responsive means coeperating with said clutch mechanism to affect the operation of the generator and tending to prevent the voltage impressed upon the battery. from exceeding a predetermined limit, the; difference in operative leverage between the connections of the current responsive means and the voltage responsive means being of such order of magnitude that the falling off in current to the battery when the same reaches a certain voltage produces substantially immaterial effect upon the voltage held across the battery by the voltage responsive means. v

10. The combination with a dynamo and battery charged thereby, of means for regulating the dynamo comprehending a device controlling the electrical operation thereof, movable means for affecting said device, current responsive means affected by current supplied by the dynamo to the battery and so arranged with respect to said movable means that fluctuations in current measured thereby always tend to affect said movable means, volta e responsive means at fected by voltage uctuations across the bat tery and ineffectively energized when said voltage-is below a predetermined value and effectively energized when the voltage eX- ceeds this value to affectthe movable means and so arranged with respect to said means that a materially lesser mechanical effort through a greater distance prodiices the efrent for operating said device and at all times tending to affect the same upon current changes, voltage responsive means normally inefi'ectivedu'ring charging of the battery till its voltage reaches a desired maximum, clutch mechanism whereby said voltage responsive means. engages the regulating thereby and means for regulating the dy- .na 0 to compensate for speed changes comprising a regulating device, of current responsive means affected by generator our device when said desired voltage value is reached by the generator, the arrangement of said voltage responsive means and clutch mechanism with respect to the regulating evice being such that the voltage responsive means predominatesin the regulation of the dynamo when the'clutch'is engaged, due to slight voltage changes then having greater effect upon the regulating device than relatively large current changes have during en-- gagement of said clutch mechanism.

JoHN L. OREVELING. 

